(Army Painters 2014) Darkest Africa Force Publique

[marianas_gamer]

Great looking chapel Doc!
LB

[Bugsda]

Excellent continuation 

I don't think the satin detracts from the figures that much, it is warm in the jungle and I would imagine that the overseers might not let them rest that often 

cheers

James

Just what I thought, in fact I think the sheen adds some realism. The chapel's looking excellent so far  Doc. 

[traveller]

I was searching for info on the battle of Redjaf and came acrosd this thread. Wow  how could I have missed this. Gorgeous stuff!

[wolivant]

Well.... its an oldie but a goodie, inspiring stuff, I headed over to Foundry and bought myself the two armies, thanks for the share.

Regards Wolt

[Dr Mathias]

Well.... its an oldie but a goodie, inspiring stuff, I headed over to Foundry and bought myself the two armies, thanks for the share.

Yes, it's an old one 

Funny enough, I have been considering returning to finish off the Darkest Africa project. I am about ten or twelve packs short of finishing the entire range. It's been a few years since I painted any historicals for myself... been deep in 40K, Rangers of Shadow Deep, and painting for Wargames Atlantic.

Now that I know a bit of 3D design I can probably model and print off the oddball shield types I had long wanted... when I made this thread I'd never considered the possibility that I'd own a viable 3d printer some day 

[Cacique Caribe]

Wow.  This is such an exciting thread!  I too have plans to have a similar game topic, so I am truly inspired over what I’ve seen here.

About tropical vegetation … To make the battlefield or exploration area look more authentic, I’ve found these three useful suggestions for vegetation in much of Latin America, SE Asia and Africa.

- For sharp thorn thickets:

https://wargaming.info/2011/an-aquarium-of-thorn-thickets/

- Making tall grass from artificial grass rugs:

https://wargamesgazette.com/2020/01/23/more-terrain-pieces-for-my-vietnam-project/

- Using washes on aquarium plants:

http://1000footgeneral.blogspot.com/2017/06/making-jungle-terrain.html

I hope it helps.

Dan
PS.  I found a source for the “thorn thickets”.  Just select Type 3:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125948750058?hash=item1d532168ea:g:VJcAAOSw6N9kbt1H&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0DdUq0qvy3dbl%2BootlCDxfdzZwQS3NWdywuDuKdkA1or7bn5NPwlGI%2FF%2FCFlN4aYb2FLA2yVdPsZEzwtOrsmgukiH0PIf2dOn1q%2FEr99bAaM%2FCRNsE0MhEinZrgzZx99586TCO%2FRWx7sXIvHwLBK6QSc%2FMHWnIU1L2y%2FfRv0YEhc%2FFjq7q%2BZ%2FIrVyOeeGln0Zkxr82uhZyrYEzuLxjFeYfofXL%2ByiK7i3fJ95%2B8%2FRfsR%2BB1QEiUKDX0M4Nh0z54wSvLI2i22G7GPBOwTUN%2F%2FHw4%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4Sprsm2Yg

[Dr Mathias]

I have so much grass and thorny thicket now, I don't think I've ever used it all on one table 

Thanks for the tips though- looks like I've used most of those plastic mats at some point.

[Grumpy Gnome]

Some cracking good work in this thread mate.

[FifteensAway]

A question for Dr. Mathias: how late would you say the Force Publique wore the uniforms you painted up?  I am hunting down some figures to do something similar, primarily for World War I but I also want some earlier figures for my Slightly Cracked Colonials collection roughly set in the age of exploration and colonization - not historical in any specific way, just a fun collection. 

And anyone with advice for figures to use in 15 mm, I'd love to hear your suggestions.  One way I'm leaving is some Spanish American War figures in straw hats.  Probably take a bit of conversion to make them work but I'm not looking for precise models, just things close enough to paint up.

Oh, and, yes, a beautifully done collection - I especially liked the burned out huts and the one with the dead person in it.

Thanks!

[Dr Mathias]

A question for Dr. Mathias: how late would you say the Force Publique wore the uniforms you painted up?  I am hunting down some figures to do something similar, primarily for World War I but I also want some earlier figures for my Slightly Cracked Colonials collection roughly set in the age of exploration and colonization - not historical in any specific way, just a fun collection. 

If I recall correctly, the uniforms didn't change much (if at all) after the Belgian government took over the Free State, around 1908. The uniform was supposed to change to khaki around the start of WW1 but as with most things I think there were probably garrisons that didn't get the new kit until well into the conflict. I'll dig out the Foundry Africa books

You guys dredging up this old thread have reminded me that I still have several packs to finish to complete the Darkest Africa range

Might need to be my 2024 project!

[FifteensAway]

Thanks for the reply and look forward to any additional information you might find to share.  Appreciated.

As to being amongst the 'dredgers', well, I'll happily take partial credit for inspiring you to get back on this project if it means getting to see more of your wonderful work.  I'm pretty sure lots of folk will enjoy seeing more of your Africa stuff here.

Oh, and there is the matter of being able to engage in the sincerest form of flattery and imitate your ideas and painting concepts!